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ILLUSTRATED 
-BY- 
TOM BROWN 



7=* ^ -5 n s"^ 

I ^ i 



Copyrighted 1910 
-by- 
Joseph Melville Henderson 



©CI,A261GlJ 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

The Cur - - - - 25 '^ 

c^HE Spring - - - - 51 ^ 

""he Bobolink - - - 69^ 



F^REF^CE. 

With a trembling hand and thoughtless pen; 

To you who cheer the hearts of men, 
And try to smile in a world of care ; 

I heartily give my moments spare. 



I'M WONDERIN'. 

I often stop and take a look 
Et the big men et I see, , 

'Nd wonder if they ever did 

The things the same as me. 

I wonder if they hed a knife 

To make their slings and mills, 

'Nd did they run for hours 
Whistlin' o'er the hills. 

Wonder if tbey used to hunt, 

Er hed a dog et loves ; 
Wonder if their face 'nd neck 

Got dirty as mine does . 

Wonder if they used to pelt, 
'Er fight afore they'd run; 

Er if they stole the apples, 

Er do sech things for fun. 

I'm ponderin' 'nd thinkin' 
Of a boy et used to be : 

'Nd I'm wonderin' if He acted 
'Nd carried on like me. 



ONLY NATURAL 

A squirrel hopped over 

The autumn leaves, 
And placed in the ground 

An acorn which it never found, 
It could not tell — 

'Twas but a squirrel, 
Only natural. 

A summer sun and 

April showers. 
Falling round, descended on, 

Brought forth a twig. 
Now long since grown 

So beautiful — 
Where dug the squirrel, 

Only natural. 

And as we're hopping 

Upon life's way, 
We'll spread around 

What can't be found. 
Though we cannot tell — 

Mostly a squirrel, 
Only natural. 

The sun will shine 

And rain drops fall, 
And the seeds behind 

Have produced their kind ; 
Our harvest is 

So bountiful — 
Onlv natural. 



DOING. 

When you find a heart that needs cheer 

Go and cheer it ; 
When you find one loveless do not jeer 

Kindly love it; 
Taking^ things just as you find them, 

Renovating dark to light them, 
Leaving naught but joy behind them ; 

You can do it. 

When sadness seems to multiply 

Then divide it ; 
Dig it out and let it dry 

You can root it; 
All the pangs of misery. 

All the chains of slavery, 
You can set at liberty ; 

Go and do it. 

When the world is dark to you 

How about it? 
And ever^^thing turns blue, 

And you doubt it, 
And the things that you have done 

Like the echoes the3^'ll return; 
Comfort to each will be given, 

'Cause you did it. 



10 

THE WORLD. 

Beneath an oak of swinging boughs, 

Among the essence of grass and flowers, 
In realm of song, a land to be, 

Where nestling breezes bear them on ; 
The flowers rise as the wavelets splash : 

The moss enfolds the passing toes. 
The trees vibrate to the tap, tap, tap; 

The willows bow to the passing wind ; 
The branches rock the little babes ; 

The twig swings low to the bobolink; 
By night, by day, in intervals 

Of cadence, beating on and on 
Each swings and sways to please the other — 

The world is poetry, one long, sweet rhyme 
Of blending elements, a train of beats 

That harmonize and cause us move 
In unity — 

Unconsciously we take it up ; 
From ages past it swings along ; 

A glorious swell we sympathize 
And echo back a sigh or song ; 

To harmonize it passes on 
Forever — 



11 



PLANTS. 

Obnoxious weeds, by men so proclaimed 
Slain by the sickle's sharp tongue; ■ 

Yet on these weeds some flowers I find, 
Perfect in form and perfume. 

Flowers divine, by men so pronounced 

Growing in gardens to be; 
Yet always some flowers on them do I find, 

Sickening to smell or to see. 

God giveth each the sunshine and rain ; 

He made them, if flower or weed ; 
Who dares to hunt for difference between. 

When each gives it's life for a seed. 



12 

HIDE AND SEEK. 

The children are playing at hide and go seek 
And off to a place does each glide; 

But they found one in every nook she can get 
And now she's no place to hide. 

Dodging she ran, while the other did count: 
Quickly the moment she cried ; 

When time was up, hid her face in her hand; 
For she could find no place to hide. 

Dodging I've run o'^r life's rugged waj^ ; 

Wherever I've been thou hast spied, 
When time is up, Oh God here am I — 

I too can find no place to hide. 



THE VIOLET. 

The little violet bloomed and bloomed 
With it's turquoise head a blowing. 

Modest it waved, but alas, alas, 

For it all was onh' for showing. 

When at the close of the autunni time, 
Pride is faded and soaring, 

Down at the surface we look and see, 
The flowers of beanty — l)looming. 



THE LOST TREASURE. 

Only a little child, 

Nature's own blessedness, 
Sweet as the rose's bloom, 

Joy of the world. 

Goddess of loveliness 

Mistress of fairy land. 

Mountain of riches and 
Ruler of all. 

Picture innocuous, 

Daisy of purity, 
Tinctures of perfectness, 

Blending serene. 

Thou art the beautiful, 

Smilings of innocence, 

Essence of sweetnesses, 
Sunbeams and dew. 

Ah! Age, thy wrinkled brow, 
Aching heart misery, 

Forsaken, all is gone. 
Wretchedness thou. 



H 



LONG AGO. 

Oh da3's of 3'outh come back again, 
Bring all th^^ joy and pleasure, 

Bring back the life that used to be ; 
Bring back thy loads of treasure. 

Come back the days of pull or sta)- 
And those of fox and geese. 

Come back the days of runaway 
And those of hide and seek. 

The days of ante -over come 

And racing on the green, 
Come back the days of chasing squirrels 

When life was but a dream. 

Come back the days of happiness, 
The days of mirth and glee. 

Bring back my childhood friends again, 
Oh bring them back to me. 

Our days are numbered one b}^ one. 
For a3^e they're gone we know ; 

But if my days return again — 
I'll take th<^ long ago. 



15 



TIME. 

I sat in the depot and listened, 
A clicking sound I heard. 

The agent touched the lever and 
The track was c^.ear ahead. 

I heard the throbbing engine 

Tearing along the line, 
The agent said: "She'll make it 

She's running on schedule time," 

We hear, as we read the promise; 

All is clear down the line, 
Will we be able to mr.ke it ; 

Are we running on sjheJale time? 

THE HAND CAR. 

Life is a hand car 

On which to go down, 
We help someone up, 

And thus, on and on 
Life's grade we will climb, 

To wish as a brother 
And help one another, 

"Th\^ will be done," 
Soon we shall come 

To our destination. 



COMRADSHIP. 

Oh for the ties that bind us 

As the knots together slip ; 

Are tied by more than sailors, 

On board of old Comradship. 

Life's sea may be rough and angry. 

It's tempest's onr fortune's tip; 
But there's ever a ready preserver, 

On board of old Comradship. 

Oh why are you taking the chances? 

Wh}^ are j^ou making the trip? 
If the journey at all is worth taking; 

It's on board of old Comradship. 



17 



THE WORD. 

The heart that is lonely with sadness ; 

And whose sunshine is fading away, 
To bring it all back in its beauty — 

Needs but the word you can say. 

The love that seems vanished forever, 
The joy that seems flown away. 

To return as it never existed — 

Needs but the word you can say. 

You are to blame for the sadness and tears 
And the lives they are dripping away, 

For all the goodness this old world needs- 
Is but the word you can say. 



18 

PROGRESS. 

Two sons, men of middle age; 

Pass upon the street, 
One salutes the other — 

"How's business, Pete?" 

Two fathers, men of silvery hair 
Meet on the selfsame spot, 

One salutes the other — 

"Hu're a' the fowk?" 



CHANGES 

"A' wauld some pow'r the gift ta gae us 
Ta see ourselves as others see ns," 

Seems well eneuch in Burns' hour; 

But now it maun be whummeled ower, 

For darkness in us laughs with glee 

Ta think the auld world canna see. 



DIFFERENCE. 

"When dnt}' whispers low 'Thou must' " 

The man replies I got the stuff — 
When danger whistles out alarm, 

The fool goes on to laugh at harm — 
Today they roll, the merry throng; 

vSide by side they march along ; 
Tomorrow the man renews the fight, 

The fool in his folly died in the night. 



19 

TO A SKELETON. 

What have we here, oh ghastly carrion; 

That cause men shudder and turn away, 
From thy ghostly look shrink from thy presence. 

But once on thy mother's knee didst thou play; 

And sleep in peace on her loving breast, 
Then as she kissed and put thee in thy little bed 

Thou wast somebody's dear little man. 

Wild were thy dreams and great thy expectations, 
Mighty the air castles ranging to the sky. 

Soon to move and sway a nation — 

Only to wake and find it comes to this. 

Still great may have been thy name and power ; 

Wide thy broad domains and ruling list. 
Till millions trembled at thy command — 

Yet do I see it has come to this. 

Men for pleasure o'er the world do roam. 

Trying to find, or coax or come. 
Seeking to rope her in are some, 

Waiting are others to steal her kiss — 
Oh could we see through the misty skies. 

We'd know at once where folly lies; 
We'd cease to look for a paradise ; 

And praises sing that it comes to this. 



KIDS TOGETHER. 

Me an' him was boys together, 

Country kids with guns an' hoops, 

Wind mills runnin' by the dozen, 

On the barns and chicken coops . 

In the creek we used to swim 
Until we'd burn our backs, 

Then we'd play up havin' show 
An' get our faces black. 

Our horses were as fine as strong 

An' just as good as true. 
Sometimes we played up animals 

And sometimes was a Jew. 

Sometimes a savage Indian, 

Without no friends ner homes, 

Sometimes mighty beasts of prey ; 
But more times Farmer Jones. 

They used to send us to the store 
An' then we'd have to think — 

What was it, say; we had to get 
Besides the mail and ink? 



21 



They used to send us berry in', 

Then we'd eat a sloo, 
An' swear we never touched a one, 

With mouths all black and blue. 

We allers et the rooster's egg 
Au' used to pick the ribs; 

That's the way we used to live 
When me an' him was kids. 



DEBT. 

A debt I owe to thee ; 

Great is my gain, 
Thy payment now I fear — 

No price I bring. 

In lending me a hand, 
You paid a brother, 

I'm paying you, could — 
I help another. 

Thus on, and on, and on 
Soon shall it come. 

You shall receive your own- 
"Thy will be done." 



22 

LIVING. 

I love to think of this good old world; 

As I did when a barefoot lad, 
In which I find there's something good; 

In which there is nothing bad. 

There's a pleasure in just being pleasant, 

There's love in the thought that we love, 

There's gladness in just being happy, 

There's goodness in just being good. 

There's strength in the thought of maybe, 
There's decision to hold up an aim, 

There's a boost in the thought I am at it. 
There's result in proving I can, 

There's gift in the thought of giving, 

Would you give any more if j^ou could? 

There's life it the thought of living, 

Could you live any more if 3'ou would? 

Let's live in the thought of living, 

Let's give in the thought that we give. 

There's death in the thought of dying, 

Let's die with the thought that we live. 



23 



THE CLOUDS OVER THE MOON. 

'Twas past the hour ot midnight, 
Yet all was as fair as June — 

In a moment the earth was shadowed, 
A cloud passed over the moon. 

I made my way through the shadows, 
In silence I sought my room, 

I fumbled around in the darkness, 
A cloud was over the moon . 

The height of joy and the depth of hope, 

Faded away in the gloom, 
My life was closed in Erebus, 

For a cloud was over the moon. 

But clouds and old moons are going. 
Look up and gaze at the sight , 

The darkness is gone forever — 

Thank God for the new moon tonight. 



24 

THE CUR. 

The trees were cracking with their heavy load 
To the howling wind and sleety storm, 

As I to homeward made my way; 

For a dismal night was coming on. 

Few trod the streets, save now and then 
A visitor, who had been among 

Friends to chat by the fireside. 

Now hurrying home ere darkness come. 

From out the alleys or the mists : 

Came a trembling little tot, 
One of the creatures here in the world 

That live and die in — what? 

With it's trembling form before me 

And quivering little feet, 
He could scarcely see for the drifting ice 

And tears frozen on his cheek. 

Thou in all thy (misery?) 

With no one's sj^mpathy, 
Thou art so sad and wretched 

Were it better not to be? 




The Cur 



2/ 

BEWARE 

Don't lau^h at the boys; 

With their guns and their toys, 
Their threshers and horses so true, 

Or the sweet little girls 
With their dollies and curls ; 

For it's queer what the wee may turn into. 

You've heard of the hatchet; 

And the tree that it fell ; 
The boy when excited the story did tell, 

And the aim of the sling-shot so true; 
So don't pass them by 

With a wink of your eye; 
For it's queer what a boy may turn into. 

You know of the girls with the fife and the drum. 
The one with the water that fired the gun; 

And the hero that died for the blue, 
So don't turn them off 

With a laugh and a scoff ; 

For it's queer what a girl may turn into. 

The boy with his papers his business does start, 
The sweet little girl with her doll and her cart, 

A picture, a dream, but it's true. 

Speak to them gently and smile from the heart; 

For it's queer what the wee may turn into. 



28 

OH! 

I'm on a bed of golden red, 

Trying to think and do, 
My tongue grows thick, the words they stick, 

But I lose my voice on Oh — 

Within a glade of evening shade, 

Watching the fire burn low, 
The tears they steep upon my cheek; 

But my tongue is stuck on Oh — 

I see the stars and golden bars. 

The lamps of heaven glow, 
I'm in a spell, I'm lost to tell ; 

Can only utter Oh — 

I sit alone upon a throne, 

My head hangs deep and low, 

Memories strung of home sweet home ; 
But the only sound is Oh — 

When the day shall pass awa3^ 

And I from here shall go, 
Will it come to me — the ability, 

More than to utter Oh? 



HAYIN' TIME. 

The day is hot an' sultry 

An' the hay in' time has come, 
The sun is just a settin' 

An' night's a comin' on. 

Mother's in the kitchen, 

Hurryin' 'cause it's late, 

To get the supper readj^ ; 

So the men won't have to wait. 

The things is on the table. 

An' she hears the dog begin; 

Now she's in the doorway, 

Watchin' the men come in. 

The horses is a trottin' 

An' the chickens fly away, 

An' the children is a shoutin' 
A ridin' on the ha^^ 

The sheep is comin' up the lane, 
An' the cows, I hear the bell, 

An' the boys are now a waterin' 
The horses at the well. 

The supper's et, the chores is done, 
An' the boj^s have took the milk 

An' mothers got her patches. 
An' workin' at her qnilt. 



The calves is in the orchard 

Gallopin' to and fro; 
I hear a lamb a blattin*, 

Huntin' for it's ma. 

Chickens peepin' now and then, 
The hogs grunt from the house, 

The cats a strollin' round about, 
Lookin' for a mouse. 

The lowin' of the cattle, 

'Nd the croakin' of the toad, 

'Nd I hear a farmer's wagon, 
A rattlin' along the road. 

The dog begins a barkin', 

'Nd I hear the gate it squealed, 

That's Aunt Jane and Uncle Hi, 
Comin' across the field. 

"How are you all," says ma to aunt, 
"Did you get my note?" 

Father says: "How are you. Hi, 
And how are all the folk?" 

"They're pretty well, 'ceptin' me, 
I sprained mj^ back today, 

'Nd then I got nigh ov^erhet. 
In try in' to mow away. 



31 



Ma and Jane is on the porch, 

Chatterin' away, 
An' by the fence is Hi and pa, 

Figurin' on the hay. 

Ma and Jane is talkin' 

An' she's glad she's on so far, 
Jane tells ma of one she got, 

"Just afore the war." 

When it's done they're thinkin' of 

How pretty it will be, 
She'll come and get a len of it, 

An' to get a cup of tea. 

"Been pretty hot," says Hi to pa, 
Pa says: " 'Twas hot today; 

But take it all in all it's been 
A fine un for the hay. " 

An' there's a spill of fire. 

It's the ashes from the pipe, 

Then you hear a slappin' 

" 'Cause the skeeters are bad tonight. 

Then there is a stretchin'. 

An' all begin to twist, 
Then there is a groanin'. 

Uncle got a stich. 



32 



"I hurt my back in '68, 

That's when I broke my wrist, 
'An as I was a sayin', 

I gave it an awful twist." 

"I 'member once of gettin' one, 

Tryin' to catch a ride; 
'An yet when I go to reachin', 

I can feel it in my side." 

"it caught me too, another time, 

Tr3nn' to get a drink." 
"I wouldn't let it go," Pa says, 

"it's mebbe more 'n you think." 

"Are you ready, Jane," says Hi to Aunt 
"Have you told her all you know, 

Where's the tobacco? 

Guess I'll fill afore I go." 

Heard you took some sheep away ; . 
How weighed the eight old ewes? 
Did you get along all right; 
Heard you au}^ news?' ' 

"Prett}' well, 'an then \'ou know, 
I didn't think they'd weigh; 

There wa'nt a team in town at ten, 
People's in the'lia\-." 



33 



The moon is just a risin', 

The sky is as clear as day; 
"An' if we have good luck at all, 

Tomorrow '11 fix the hay.' 

"The grain is fast a turnin', 

'An no changes of the moon ; 

The oats '11 then be ready, 

'An the harvest will be on." 

"These is the daj^s for hay in', 

'An we're all a gettin' on; 
But we ought to have a shower, 

For the corn's a sufferin' some. 

'Good night,' says they; 'Good 'night,' says all 
"When will you come again?" 

"it won't belong— you want to come." 
"We will — you do the same." 

An' ma an' sis has gone to bed, 

'An left the light burn dim; 
They put it out 'an climb the stairs, 

'An the boys have all turned in. 



34 

TO A CANARY IN A CAGE. 

I know not of the ologies of books ; 

Nor of the thoughts of birds ; 
But far down in my heart is loneliness, 

Deeper than words. 

Don't eye me in that scrutinizing way, 

Surely thy happiness is flown, 
Thou shut from the woods and flowers, 

Born to live and die alone. 

Thou knowest the fields and flowers is my home ; 
And torn from them doth cause me grief and 

pain; 
But still I try to sing in cheerfulness 

How ere the world may look or life may 

seem. 



TO YOU. 

A broken heart may rise again, 
Like waters of the fallen rain. 

Get up down heart and jog along ; 

There is something better farther on. 



35 
AN AUTUMN STROLL. 

Free from the toils of a busj' da}-, 

Strolling beside a sparkling stream, 
Out among the autumn's gold — 

Up where the little birds sing and dream, 
Winding thither among the vines — 

Down the path w^here the cattle go, 
Hearing the d^^ing strains of day — 

Watching the splendorous sunset glow, 
Feeling the heart throb in it s joy, 

Seeing the heavens their lamps hang free ; 
There as the silent dew drops fall, 

Sadly I turn my steps from thee. 



TO A FADED FLOWER. 

Last night more beautiful than tongues can speak 
More lovely far than hands can paint; 

I pinned you as a flower rare and sweet. 
Now faded, withered up and faint. 

Today we travel on life's brightest wa}-, 

Beautiful in statue and mightiest of tlie hcnir 

Spreading joy and gladness in our wa>- — 
Tomorrow but a faded flower. 



36 



MY CUD OF GUM. 

I used to hate my dresses, 

'Nd used to love my gun ; 

But nothin' did I love 'nd hate, 
As I did my cud of s^um. 

A half a stick would do the girls — 
Boys needed more to twist ; 

But when it came to me, I had 
A cud most like my fist. 

A resolution every time — 

The same's the itch I'd rub; 

I'd swear I'd throw it right away; 
Still I'd keep that cud. 

Man}' a time it left it's place. 

When I'd swear things free; 

Soon it would be restored again; 
Dirt was it's gain to me. 

When I'd go to bed, I then 

Would take it from my face, 

Then I'd have to rub my jaw 
To get that back in place. 



37 



'Nd then I'd stick it on the wail, 

'Nd g^aze at such a load ; 
'Nd then I'd have to smile and laugh ; 

'Cause it looked like a great green toad, 

Soon it was all forgotten, 

But it served it's time to me, 

'Nd like the things I used to have, 
It's but a memor}^. 



THE GARDENER. 

A gardener looked upon his crop. 

And his heart with joy was wrung, 

For when he looked at each he found 
A kernel in every one. 

When the Gardener sees his crop, 
And the threshing time is done ; 

Do you think it will thrill his heart to find 
A kernel in every one? 



FOR YOU. 

Be good to others as you maj', 
Mark well the little dent; 

That if you don't respect yourself, 

The}^ won't return the compliment. 



38 

A DYING COWBOY. 

Going, going, going, my dear old western home; 

x\s the sailor loves the sea, I love thee more, 
Thy mighty plains I cherish ; 

And I love thy starry heights ; 
And thy rivers long and broad I did explore. 

I love to see thy waving fields 

A glowing in the sun ; 
The lines of reapers are a 303^ to me, 

I love the harvest sunshine, 
And the mighty fields of corn ; 

Rut I love still more the things that used to be. 

The prairie wolves that used to howl 

Their music o'er the plains, 
The antelopes that live so wild and free, 

The dark anH roving masses of the timid buffalo 
No more I'll see them as Ihev used to be. 



39 



The camp fire's dim and dusky lights 

Have faded from the plain, 
The trail is gone where once it use to be ; 

For the tameless, war-like Indian 
Is driven from our state ; 

Thus is the vanished life that use to be. 

The wild and roving cowboy 

With his pony and his gun. 
And buckskin breeches frinr^ed and hanging free, 

His wide rimmed hat and lariat, 
He galloped to and fro ; 

These are things I love that use to be. 

The travelers of the western soil 

No more will now be seen, 
The days of rounding up no more I'll see ; 

The heart is growing lonely, 
And my eyes are getting dim ; 

For I love the good old things that use to be. 



40 



speed, speed thee on, our sons, 

Thy changes need they now, 
Thy mighty schools and churches I implore; 

They must supplant the free and wild 
Old life we use to live ; 

Till the things that use to be are seen no more; 
But give to me the life of old 

Upon thy mighty plain, 
A dream of dear old home sweet home to me ; 

That I may die in happiness 
As I have lived of old ; 

For I fondle most the things that used to be. 



CHRISTIANITY. 

Where loads are heavj^ 

Where hearts are weary. 

Let's soon arrive. 

That load to lighten, 

That face to brighten — 
That's why we live. 



41 



TO A SKIN. 

One night I found a skin 

Under a rock ; 
Though searching for the life, 

I found it not — 
Leaving it's skin behind, 

Glad to be free; 
Into the sunshine went, 

Beauty to see. 

Tonight or not tonight, 

But soon you'll see. 
When 'neath the cold gray stone. 

My skin shall be — 
I will have cast it off, 

Search not for me ; 
It will be left behind, 

And I shall see. 



42 

WONDERMENT. 

i^'or months the ceaseless breezes have been blowing, 
The ground is damp and misty is the day, 

\]1 nature is in dreariness awaiting, 

Wondering if it soon will pass away. 

\nd on, and on, the breezes still are blowing, 
My heart is damp and misty is the day, 

Vly life is all in dreariness awaiting. 

Wondering if it soon will pass away. 

Phen I heard a murmur in the breezes, 
Coming as comes music from a fray, 

'Though clear your mists into celestial beauty. 
Your wondering shall never pass away." 



::ONSCIENCE'S WHISPERING. 

Froubled, troubled, troubled. 

Bless your little youth ; 
^^othing but law does take its course, 

Nothing is true but truth. 

['11 blend all doubt to harmonj' ; 

Hark, I am speaking to you, 
Mothing takes its course but law. 

Nothing but truth is true. 



43 
MY BRIGHT TOED COPPER BOOTS. 

Say pa, by gee it's gettin' cold, 

My toes 'nd fingers sting; 
So pa 'nd me went to the store, 

To get some mitts 'nd things. 

We got the mitts, a dandy pair 

Of yellow wrists 'nd red; 
But when it came to get the shoes 

I got some boots instead. 

They had a wide 'nd heavy heel, 

'Nd ears as big as pa's. 
The leg in front was high 'nd round, 

'Nd shinin' copper toes, 

I hurried home 'nd showed my boots 

To Mag 'nd Uncle Ned, 
'Nd sat up late as ma 'nd pa; 

Then took 'em up to bed. 

Next morn in' when I went to school, 

I let the boys all see ; 
I was the biggest one of all, 

Oh how thev envied me. 



44 



Gee sakes alive, them boots could run 

All day and never stop, 
'Nd walk in water to the ears 

'Nd never leak a drop. 

Then I'd get the jack at night, 

'Nd kick 'em in it's jaws, 
'Nd set 'em up afore the stove; 

Along the side of pa's. 

Then how I'd have to pull 'nd pull, 
'Nd kick 'nd squirm about, 

To get 'em on when mornin' come — 
Them bright toed copper boots. 

Then how they'd rub, 'nd rub my heel, 
'Nd how my toes would pinch; 

But that would never hurt at all, 
Nor never make me flinch. 

But where they're now I cannot tell. 
They're like my stilts 'nd coops; 

But though they're gone, I love 'em still 
My bright toed copper boots. 



45 

MIDNIGHT AND MORNING. 

The embers were dying, the clock had struck, 

Ere either had died away ; 
It had gone with the past forever, 

And yesterday's but a day. 

It had gone to return, no, never, 
In the past it had gone to stay ; 

As we look at today, tomorrow, 
Todaj^ will be yesterda}'. 

A smile, a word, an action, 

A deed, a look, or a lay, 
Are the things the past keeps count of; 

When now will be yesterday. 

What is the value of having done; 

What is the worth of a day? 
Don't put it off till tomorrow, 

Tomorrow for you may not be. 

The account that you have tomorrow 
Is the debt you contract toda5^ ; 

Stock every moment with treasure, 
Load each ere It passes away. 

Safely they'll carry them for you. 

Interest on interest will pay ; 
Is it business to do things in season r 

Is it business to do it today ? 



46 



The height that you get tomorrow, 
Depends on your climb today ; 

If you sit and dream till tomorrow, 
What gave you to yesterday? 

When the embers of life are dying, 

And the pulse strikes the ebbing away ; 

We'll see by the light of tomorrow, 
Our work of yesterday. 



THE SIGN. 

A heathen sighs for the friend that's gone, 
E'en till his last word's spoken, 

He's laid away, his friend is sad; 
And another heart is broken. 

A christian lives in life through hope, 
The past is gone — forgotten, 

Knowing that he may yet rejoice; 
When but the word is spoken. 



47 



TO MY SLATE. 

Of all the things I use to buy, 

Or all I use to make ; 
Nothing ever brought the smiles, 

Like my little broken slate. 

I'd get my book upon the desk 
To work a little graft ; 

But make a picture on my slate, 
Then I'd sit and laugh, 

When I'd get up in rank, 
Peculiar in it's range; 

Simply touch it up a bit, 

And laugh to see the change. 

Turn it round or upside down, 
Or take a different plane ; 

Each one was more ridiculous. 
Change 'em and laugh again. 

Thus through life we pictures make; 

Where every line is gain, 
Filling the air with merriment ; 

Change them and laugh again. 



48 

TAKE ME THERE. 

Take me from this stuffy room, 

Bundle up and take me soon ; 
To the world of rhyme and tune — 

All is fair. 
Down the meadow, o'er the lea, 

With the hoppers in the hay ; 
And the bubbling waters play — 

Take me there. 

^Take me through the orchard's glow, 

Where the blossoms wave and blow 
Drifting thither as the snow — 

Take me where 
The earth is covered over, 

A fairy land of clover ; 
That I may romp and hover — 

Take me there. 

Take me in the world of night. 
As the sunbeams let it light 

Away the care; 

Let's wander hither, thither, 

Through a bower o'er the river; 
And cares are lost forever — 

Take me there. 



Take me back to yesterday ; 

As a boy I used to play, 
To a world of sunny day — 

Take me where, 
Down the walls of memory ; 

Back, back, back, unto the tree 
That died on Calvary — 

Take me there. 

Take me into the tomorrow, 

When I leave this world of sorrow; 
Credit all I had to borrow — 

Take me there. 
Where time is lost forever, 

And glories shine, shine, ever; 
And neither have a measure — 

Take me there. 



THROUGH THE WINDOW. 

I hear a v^oice calling: "I'm waiting," 
I hear the feet swing to and fro; 

I hear a child answering: "Yes, pa, 
I'll be there — I'm read}' to go." 

I'm sitting alone in silence. 

In dimness the light burns low ; 
From the stillness I hear a whisper: 

"Are you through— are you ready to go?" 



50 

THE SPRING. 

Wherever I went as the breezes did blow, 

A barefooted lad in the blossoms of snow, 

Down on my belly in joy at the spring, 

I drank of the bubbling crystals within. 

Then as I raised my head for a rest, 

I scared from the flowers the bird from her nest ; 
I'd watch from each .<np the rippling ring. 

And I'm up and away like the bird from the 

spring. 

But the bird that fluttered away from the nest, 

Has lived o'er life's summer and long been at 

rest. 

The petals that fell and clustered upon, 

Like I they have rippled and now they are gone. 

The waters that flowed from the spring of my youth, 
Are passing as I down the stream to the gulf, 

But deep were the draughts for there's bubbling 

within. 
And I'm on my belly, a boy at the spring. 




The Spring. 



53 
TO A PENDULUM. 

Why persecuteth me, thou swinging pendulum, 
Canst thou not see that f-om day to day, 

As I watch thee, strange as you may think it — 
That you are swinging my life away? 

"Ah yes, I know, but please to listen; 
Nations have I rose but for thy gain. 

Men have I brought to make the old world better- 
Teaching that you may not live in vain." 

"Dare to answer to your call of duty. 

Making each moment count is my only plea, 

Day by day though your troubles thicken- 
Still from them all I'll set 3^ou free." 



54 

ALMA MATER. 

Coming from brooklets the countrj^ o'er, 

In a mighty stream we flowed together ; 

Down through the channels of our alma mater, 
Into the ocean we part forever. 



GREATNESS. 

With a multitude standing about Him, 

I can see how his beaming face smiled; 

When they asked : "Which of them should be great 
He took from among them a child. [est?" 

And the multitude still is a standing. 

And I know once again that he smiled ; 

When I thought which of us will be greatest, 
He whispered: "Who cares for the child." 



55 



VACATION. 

Vacation, vacation, 

You can tell by onr looks, 
We're tired of teachers, 

Of lessons and books, 
'Tis with wild recreations. 

We'll drift on thy sea, 
'Tis our love for the wild; 

And the joy to be free. 

The class room grows weary. 

As it grinds day by day ; 
But always vacation. 

Grows tired of play, 
'Tis with fond recollections. 

We'll then look to thee. 
We're as glad to get back ; 

As we were to get free. 

Vacation is glad time. 

Yet, it bringeth a tear. 
We love to be free, 

Still long to be here. 
We sigh for the flowers. 

In the snow we rejoice, 
We love each as dearly. 

Yet make each our choice, 



56 



We start on life's pathway, 

It's journey begin, 
We're sorry we're boys, 

'Cause we want to be men; 
We love the wild woods. 

In their silence, alone, 
Yet love our companions, 

With chatter and song. 

We love the sun shining. 

We're glad when it's set, 
We know it will bring us 

Contentment and rest ; 
We're glad when it rises, 

For again it will bring 
The bees, and the birds, and the 

Songs that they sing. 

We love the bright sunshine, 

And it's beauty untold, 
Still, nothing but sunshine 

Grows sultry and old ; 
We then love the rain drops. 

And watch them flow on ; 
'Tis a blessing to find 

Joy in each as the}' come. 



57 



God made the changes, 

In each we are blest, 
And the one that is coming, 

Is the one we love best ; 
And when death shall call us, 

We know 'tis as much, 
Oh God hear our prayers; 

For we thank thee 'tis such. 



SUCCESS 

Give every moment 

Your strictest attention. 
Dare what seems right 

Though the world says it's wrong, 
Never return from your 

Purpose intended, 
Meet difficulty 

With smile and a song. 

Cherish your labor 

With loving affection, 
All will return 

As proportion 3^ou give. 
Sweet satisfaction 

Adorn your last moment, 
Death is but crowning, 

The life that you live. 



LETTIN' THINGS COME DOWN. 

Over the hills 'nd back again; 

Only a boy that's free, 
Now I'm gettin' ready, 

Fer I'm goin' away, you see — 
A strainin', 'nd tryin', and pullin', 

Gettin' the darn junk on — 
Oft ed come a button, 

Lettin' the things come down. 

Makin' the trains to cross the land ; 

'Nd boats to sail the sea, 
Gettin' the things in readiness; 

'Nd fixed as they ort to be, 
Then all at once a mighty stroke ; 

Puttin' on force 'nd brawn, 
Off ed come a button , 

Lettin' the things come down. 

Still in life I'm at it, 

Plannin' to do 'nd be, 
Arrangin' things of mightiness 

To conquer that land and sea, 
Gettin' things in readiness, 

Soon to reacli the crown ; 
Off will come a button, 

Lettin' the things come down. 



59 



BOYS AND MEN. 

When we are young ; 

It's joy and fun 
Life has begun, 

Like the rising sun ; 
With some old chum, 

You swim and run ; 
Till the time is spun. 

And play is done. 

W^hen we are men : 

We'll think of when 
We were boys and then ; 

With a heart of pain, 
Tell o'er again 

Some old refrain ; 
When we were ten. 

When we are men. 



SMILING FACE. 

Of all the things so gay and pretty ; 

Of all the world that's full of beauty, 
Charity without expense. 

Cheerfulness and innocence, 
Or all things else of time or place 

There's nothing like a smiling face. 



60 

THE PROOF AND THE PICTURE. 

I have posed and my picture is taken ; 

While waiting I'm standing aloof, 
Soon in my hand I am holding, 

And look as I am on an unfinished proof. 

But when my picture is finished, 

I am as sweet as the old bye and bye, 

My troublesome brow is not wrinkled, 

I look at the picture and pause, is it I? 

My picture is now being taken, 

I'm posing, though moving aloof, 

Here at myself I am gazing. 

In sadness I look at this unfinished proof. 

When life's picture is finished; 

And the cares of the w^orld shall pass bj^ 
My troublesome brow won't be wrinkled, 

I shall look at the picture and pause, is it I? 



61 



A SIMILE. 

The forests wave and swing; 

Bending are ^the trees, 
Resisting what they can ; 

Of the old. world's breeze, 

Ihe old man moves. along. 
Buffeting rain and snow, 

Dodging here and there, 

Marking the ones to go. 

Some ponderous, some grand, 

Som- wonderful, some short, 

Some beautiful, some strange, 
Some rotten at the heart. 

New ones taking root, 

Springing from the ground. 
Battling the storms. 

Till the old man makes his round 



62 

EVENING. 

Beneath the willows on God's green grass; 

Beside the creek where the cowslips bloom , 
Where daisies, buttercups and a thousand more 

Perfume the breezes as they gently pass, 
Where cat bird, thrush and bobolink 

Together sing their music o'er, 
Again and every time proclaim 

New verses to the heart that hears 
And feels the thrilling life blood flow 

Along her veins. 
Then voices long since mute and still ; 

In tone float o'er the atmosphere; 
And echo back the scenes again. 

As sleep that sips our cares away, 
The sadness of the da^^ forgotten is. 



POSSIBILITIES. 

Many have lived in the sunshine, 

Whose faces are now dark and sad — 

Perhaps thej^ suffer for what 3^ou have done ; 
Would you sigh if you knew that you had? 

There are many who find life's way wear3% 

There are hearts that are bleeding life's blood- 
Perhaps you can make their life cheery ; 

Would you try if 3^ou knew that you could? 



63 



WANTS A CORNER. 

Such a glorious old world of plenty, 

Abundance of all e'en time; 
For you to reach your little corner 

And I to mine. 

Though stocked up with moments o'erflowing, 
They're fleeting 'away into time; 

While you're reaching your little corner 
And I to mine. 

As quick as the flight of an arrow, 

Comes a call for a change in the line; 

Will it hnd you in your little corner 
And I in mine? 



GOLDEN ROD. 

Down in the slush of the meadow 
Up from the cold, damp sod, 

Blooming in all of it's beauty; 
Comes forth the golden rod. 



64 



HANK'S METAPHYSICS. 

I don't know much of thinkin,' 

Er how the big ones do, 
Nor how they get the meanin', 

Er when they know it's true; 
I can't explain the business, 

Er how they make things be; 
But I know I have it settled, 

With proof enough for me. 

I don't know how the woodchuck sleeps, 

'Nd then comes up to see; 
Nor how the buds know when to come, 

Er birds can cross the sea, 
Er how the stars can circle 'round, 

As pretty as can be; 
But since I've stopped and wondered, 

It's proof enough for me. 

Can't tell why the sky is blue, 

Er wh}^ don't grass be brown ; 
Don't see why the little seed 

Comes up instead of down ; 
It's hard for me to figure, 

But as far as I can see, 
Don't know if 'twill suit you; 

But it's proof enough for me. 



65 



Why do the birds get feathers, 

'Nd little fishes fins, 
When each is eatin' half the worm ; 

One flies, the other swims ; 
I haven't had the learnin', 

So I 'spose we won't agree; 
But as far as I can think it. 

It's proof enough for me. 

The way that things is actin', 

Is more than I can see, 
If somethin's not behind it. 

Then 'tis a mystery; 
Bat when I lost my Bett3', 

And I sooner wouldn't he; 
I felt a certain comfort. 

Which is proof enough for me. 



TRUTH, 

The chisel's finest work's but counterfeitini!:, 

The pen has tried to tell but words don't feel, 

The brush at best is but an imitation, 

Deceive, deceived, deceiving, God alone is real. 



66 

REFLECTION. 

I am not now what once I was, 

I have not what was once my lot, 

I do not feel as once I felt, 

When but a bo^' and knew it not. 

Wild as the bloom in j^ flowers that waved, 
I whistled through them as a breeze, 

Without a thoug^ht of how or why 
vSeeing, I did believe. 

Then as I rose to dizzy hei^^hts. 

Castles with golden spires, 
In which to live but to succeed. 

Filling my life's desires. 

Into the realm of knowledge, 

I trod through it's bookish lists; 

Until they vanished like parting sails. 
Lost in the thickening mists. 

My onh^ understanding is; 

And then I know not how 'tis planned. 
But somehow, somewhere, I shall see. 

Sometime, some dav, I'll understand. 



67 
REPLENISHING. 

When the days are scented and sunny ; 

And the birds sing their sweetest and long; 
And the bees are seeking for honey, 

In glee do I sing it in song. 

When the bright shades of the noontime depart; 

And the bees, like their songs, are asleep, 
Out of the recesses deep in my heart, 

Love from it's lone lair doth creep. 

Into the forest of memory they stray ; 

Searching the trees of it's years, 
Bringing back scenes that are hidden away 

And drinking at fountains of tears. 

Bringing them back e'en to Calv'ry, 

Storage for hope to remain, 
Back to their lair at the dawn of the day, 

To rest and commence it again. 



68 

THE BOBOLINK. 

All night in the reign of darkness: 

With naught but is cold and dreary, 

All is hushed and the world is still 
And hearts are damp and wear3^ 

The bobolink sits among the flowers; 

Whose weeping heads are hung. 
He patiently waits with a heavy heart 

And hopes he has cherished long. 

When he feels in the tingling turf; 

The touch of the morning sun, 
He rises aloft with a thrill of joy 

And floods the world with his song. 

When, oh when, the touch I feel; 

Of hopes I've cherished long, 
I shall rise as the bobolink in his flight 

And sing in his burst of song. 







The Bobolink 



71 



CORRECTION. 

Slate 'nd book beneath my arm; 

vSwingin' my book 'nd rule, 
Struttin' along the dusty roads; 

On my way to school. 

When the teacher had me count ; 

The numbers weren't even. 
One, two, three, and hurried on; 

With six, eight, five, eleven. 

'Nd every day I had to count ; 

'Nd every day they mixed, 
Then I'd have to listen 

While the teacher would correct. 

When I fell into the creek ; 

Or slipped within a tree, 
There's always .somcthin' happenin'. 

Kind o' correctin' me. 

Now I find in trouble's realm, 

E\'erything bisects ; 
Each ^.'erm having it's germ to fight ; 

'Nd tiie Teacher still corrects. 



12 

THE MICROSCOPE. 

What see I here, oh who can tell, 

A tiny speck, perhaps a world, 
Where nations rise, decline and fall ; 

And scientists their thoughts bring forth, 
When looking through the telescope; 

And view our world in wonderment, 
Bewildering, infinitj^ 

Or finite all's perplexity. 



THE PASSING. 

The highest honor. 

To pay a man, 
Is to meet him squarely, 

And call him b}^ name. 

Of all the partings, 

I long to tell. 
Is to shake his hand, 

And w^ish him well. 



73 



THEN WHAT? 

Here on life's troubled sea, 
Our boat may swim, 

When it begins to sink, 
Ma}^ I ask what then? 

"When we la3' us down, 

Our bones to rot, 
Who fears eternity, 

Since none be not." 

"W^e know not, yet we are 
As great that night. 

Though we shall never know ; 
If you are right." 

"We are as rich as both, 
'Neath the grassy plot, 

Believing death is life ; 
With God on top." 



74 

THE BIRD AND THE FLOWER. 

A little bird grew tired of life, 

With pain it's heart was stricken; 

"I will not sing today," he said, 

"since there is no one to listen." 

"Such a dull old world," said a little bud. 

As it drew itself together; 
"I will not bloom today," she said, 

"In this damp and misty weather." 

"Why don't j^ou sing," asked the little bud, 
"The day's so dark and dreary;" 

"Why don't you bloom," he asked of her; 
"I too, am sad and weary." 

"I'll bloom for you," she said, and then 

Upset her perfume — ^^spilling, 
"I'll sing for you," he gently said. 

And set at once to trilling. 

There the}' lived life's summer o'er. 

Each in it's little bower, 
"Singing for you," said the little bird : 

"Blooming for you," said the flower. 



75 

THE BIRDS. 

Resting beneath the shade of a tree, 

Watching the grass and the flowers, 

Hearing the buzz and drone of the bee, 
Drinking the dew from their bowers. 

Watching the clouds dissolve on the wing, 

Studying nature to learn her, 
Seeing the birds as they perch but to sing, 

Then passing on without murmur. 

Yes, passing through space as a bird on the wing, 

Leaving the ages behind me ; 
Here but a moment to rest while I sing — 

I too shall continue my journey. 



76 

THE END? 

Babes by the rippling river, 

Children a wandering thither, 

Braiding the flowers together, 
Just flowers? 

On to the ocean they're drifting, 
Summer to winter is shifting, 

Dark hair with silver is mixing, 
Just changing? 

Now back to childhood they've grown, 

Sitting in silence alone. 
Tears on their burning cheeks shown. 

Just tears there? 

For the wreath they wove, they are sighing, 
'Tis broken, the flowers are dying. 

Beneath the sod they're lying. 
Just 'neath it? 



TITLE INDEX PAGE 

I'm Wonderin' ..... 7 

Only Natural 8 

Doina: 9 

The World 10 

Plants 11 

Hide and Seek . . . . .12 

The Violets 12 

The Lost Treasure .... 13 

Long Ago ...... 14 

Time 15 

The Hand Car 15 

Comradship . . . . . 16 

The Word 17 

Progress . . . . . .18 

Changes ...... 18 

Difference ...... 18 

To A Skeleton 19 

Kids Together 20 

Debt 21 

Living ...... 22 

Clouds Over the Moon . . . 23 

To A Cur 24 

Beware . . . . . • ?7 

Oh 28 

Havin' Time . . . . . .• 29 



To A Canary in A Cage . . .34 

TolYou . . ... .34 

An Autumn Stroll . . . .35 

To A Faded Flower . . . 35 

My Cud of Gum . . . .36 

The Gardener 37 

For You 37 

A Dying Cowboy .... 38 

Christianity . . . . .40 

To A Skin . . . . .41 

Wonderment ..... 42 
Conscience Whispering . . .42 

My Bright Toed Copper Boots . . 43 

Midnight and Morning ... 45 

The Sign . . . . . 46 

To My Slate 47 

Take Me There . . . .48 

Through the Window ... 49 

The Spring 50 

To A Pendulum .... 53 

Alma Mater . . . . .54 

Greatness . '. . . . 54 

Vacation ... . . 55 

Success . . . . . .57 

Lettin' Things Come Down ... 58 
Boys and Men . . . . 59 



Smiling Face . . . . .59 

The Proof and the Picture . . 60 

A Simile 61 

Evening . . . • • -62 

Possibilities ..... 62 

Wants A Corner .... 63 

Golden Rod 63 

Hank's Metaphysics . . . . 64 

The Truth 65 

Reflection 66 

Replenishing . . . . . 67 

The Bobolink .... 68 

Correction . . . . • 71 

The Microscope . . . . 72 

The Passing . . ... 72 

Then What? . . . • .73 

The Bird and the Flower . . . 74 

The Birds 75 

The End? 76 



X107 



MAY 2 1910 



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